On the Shelf: Carbon and Environmental Labeling

“Carbon ratings” are starting to make their debut on labels in France. Currently in the trial phase, these labels ultimately aim to inform consumers about the impact their purchases have on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The European Union is also working on an eco-label for use in all E.U. countries.

Since 1994, for certain home appliances, European consumers have been in the habit of reading labels that contain information about a product’s energy performance and certain other characteristics, including water consumption and noise levels.

Soon, a wide range of fast-moving consumer goods will feature similar information about their environmental impactAny change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from human activity...
, as part of an initiative led by the European Union. In France, the system is being implemented by the Grenelle I and II Environment Acts1. After a 2011-2012 trial with 168 companies found that the various systems needed to be harmonized, companies from the textile, furniture and hotel industries, along with two major retail chains, volunteered in 2017 to take part in the pre-deployment phase, backed by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME)2.

Given the number and complexity of the criteria to be taken into account, it is difficult to determine the most effective way of getting the information to consumers so that they can make an informed choice. Should the information be provided on a label directly on the product or on the shelf next to its price, on the customer’s receipt, on posters around the store, or perhaps via a website?

The carbon rating of a product must take into account every stage of its life cycle.

Across the European Union

The European Union is spearheading various labeling initiatives including, as of June 2017, a project to simplify labels for home appliances, with a single A-to-G rating scale3. More broadly, a three-year trial was launched in January 2014 to identify common standards and determine appropriate verification and consumer communication methods.

The difficulty lies in coordinating the initiatives being undertaken in various member countries. In the United Kingdom, for example, major outlets have been using this type of label for several years. Harmonizing the method for calculating the environmental impact of products marketed throughout Europe can quickly become a complex task.

Rethinking Food Packaging to Reduce Waste
Although plastic packaging often suffers from a negative image in the supermarket, it actually offers numerous advantages in terms of energy consumption when the entire product life cycle is taken into account.

- Transportation: Plastic packaging is much lighter than glass, which means that less fuel is needed to deliver goods to the consumer. It also takes up less space, enabling higher vehicle fill rates. In Europe, 10 million metric tons of fuel is avoided each year thanks to plastic packaging.

- Preservation: Plastic packaging is an effective way of preserving food. A cucumber wrapped in plastic film keeps for 11 days longer than an unpackaged cucumber. In the supermarket, loose fruit and vegetables generate 26% more waste than products prepackaged in plastic.

- Recycling: Provided that consumers dispose of it thoughtfully, plastic packaging reduces the amount of waste to be recycled or incinerated after the product has been consumed.